Family, friends, and political colleagues of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) national women leader and former board chairperson of Voice of Nigeria, late Professor Stella Effah-Attoe, have converged on the Presbyterian Church, Hope Waddell Parish, Calabar, Cross River State for her funeral service.
At the funeral service were some prominent members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) led by the acting National Chairman, Umar Ililya Damagum; the PDP Board of Trustees Chairman, Adolphus Wabara, who was represented by the former governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke; the Akwa Ibom State Governor Umoh Eno, who was represented by the Deputy Governor Akon Eyakenyi; and another ex-governor of Cross River State, Mr Donald Duke.
Others were the State Chairman of the PDP, Mr Venatius Ikem; the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Professor Sandy Onor; serving and former members of the National assembly as well as several women groups and members of the academia.
READ ALSO: PDP Mourns Passing of its National Woman Leader, Prof. Effah-Attoe
In his sermon on the topic, “Divine Encounter”, taken from the gospel of Luke chapter 19 verses 1 to 10, Most Reverend Theophilus Egbala described the deceased as a woman, who was influenced by God to eschew corruption and embrace virtues, which endeared her to many and the almighty.
Egbala said, “there are a lot of things that hinder people, especially politicians from having that divine encounter with God; wealth is one of such that can make many people alienated from God, but a divine encounter is transformational.
I urge those of us still alive to come close to God, seek to be touched by God.
Divine encounter gives people a new understanding of the world and pushes one to think in a godly way, imbibing godly principles, and to love one another.”
Part of the funeral service was the reading of the biography of late Professor Stella Effah-Attoe by her eldest son, David Attoe, and renditions of gospel songs by her family.
There was also a cross section of Cross River political women led by Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo and the PDP State Woman Leader, Mrs. Florence Inyang.
In a condolence message, the acting National Chairman of the party, Umar Damagum said that the deceased would be missed, as she had been a loyal member of the PDP since its inception.
“Stella will be greatly missed. She was an unwavering and committed member of our great party. May God comfort all those she has left behind,” said Damagum.
Similarly, Nigeria’s former President Goodluck Jonathan, in his message to the family, described late Effah-Attoe as “a sincere patriot and hardworking woman, who inspired many women to aim for greater heights because of her considerable achievements and commitment to service and just causes”.
He further described her demise as “a painful loss to the academia and our democracy”, considering her active involvement in the 4th Republic politics and prayed God comforts her family.
The Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu said, “late Professor Stella Effah-Attoe was a consummate politician and distinguished academia. In the period she served as Commissioner for Education and Commissioner for Information and Culture, Cross River State witnessed immense growth in the sectors, which are still visible till date.
As we bid our dear daughter farewell, her life and times shall always live with us.”
Also, the PDP Board of Trustees Chairman, Adolphus Wabara, eulogized the deceased as “a woman of exceptional intellect and grace, whose contributions have left indelible mark on the party”.
“Her dedication and leadership as the Woman Leader were unparalleled and an embodiment of humility,” he added.
Biography
The late Professor Stella Effah-Attoe was born on the 29th of November, 1959 to Wilson Egwu Kanu Effah and Mercy Nnenda Effah of Ikun Village in Biase local government area, southern senatorial district of Cross River State.
She attended Saint Louis Nursery School, Bompai, Kano State between 1964 and 1971; Our Lady Girls School, Tiko in the Republic of Cameroon; but obtained her First School-Leaving Certificate from Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, Clegg Street, Yaba, Lagos.
And between 1972 and 1976, she attended and obtained her WAEC from Edgerly Memorial Girls’ Secondary School, Calabar.
From 1976 to 1980, she studied History at the University of Calabar, Cross River State, and later enrolled for a PhD in African History at the same university, with 10 books published, 23 journals and 2 monographs to her credit.
Professor Stella Effah-Attoe served in several capacities as a notable Nigerian politician, educationist and on some boards, including Voice of Nigeria and the National Youth Service Corps. She was a member of the PDP Board of Trustees, and in recent times served as the National Women Leader of the party.
She is survived by her husband, Chief Shaibu Afolabi Oyedokun, the Oluomo of Inisaland; six children; brothers, one of whom is the Deputy Director (Programmes) at Voice of Nigeria, Mr Dennis Effah; and a host of other relatives.
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